BYU forward AJ Dybantsa is showing NBA scouts why he deserves to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. On Saturday, the 6’9″ phenom tallied 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, leading the No. 23 Cougars (20-7, 8-6 Big 12) to a 79-69 win over No. 6 Iowa State (23-4, 10-4 Big 12).
The Brockton, Massachusetts, native also played all 40 minutes, the second time in four games he has lasted the distance, and the fourth straight game he has suited up for at least 39 minutes, drawing comparisons with Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson for durability.
AJ Dybantsa Reacts To Heavy Load Assigned To Him
During a post-game media availability session following the win over the Cyclones, Dybantsa responded with a 12-word statement about the workload BYU coach Kevin Young has placed on him over the past four games.
“If I need to play 40 minutes to win, I’ll play 40 minutes a game,” the forward said.
The BYU forward also acknowledged that the competition is intensifying and that each win over a seeded team is essential to securing a better position in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments.
“If I need to play 40 minutes to win, I’ll play 40 minutes a game. We’ve been neck and neck, losing by single digits to UConn, Arizona, Houston, all these Top 5, Top 10 teams,” Dybantsa added. “We knew we were right there, and it was just a matter of time until we collectively brought it together and got a dub.”
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The win was significant for BYU, marking their first win over a Big 12 Conference opponent ranked in the AP Top 25. The upset could affect NCAA Tournament seedings moving forward, as BYU outclassed Iowa State, a team that was predicted to be a No. 1 seed by various experts on Saturday.
Dybantsa has been playing with a sense of urgency since Richie Saunders’s ACL injury ruled him out for the season. It is now up to him and Robert Wright III to carry the load for the Cougars as they position themselves for March Madness, which is weeks away.
Over the past four games, there has been a deliberate effort to increase Dybantsa’s workload as BYU tries to position itself for a better seeding. He played 40 minutes against Baylor, 43 minutes against Colorado, 39 minutes against Arizona, and went the full route against Iowa State.
MORE: Kansas’ Darryn Peterson Favored Over AJ Dybantsa by 60% of NBA Scouts, Analyst Reports
The situation is quite the opposite for his Kansas counterpart, Peterson, who has suited up for only 16 of the Jayhawks’ 27 games due to a myriad of injuries and illnesses. Kansas coach Bill Self sometimes manages his load to prevent further injuries, a topic of discussion in college basketball circles.
Peterson played 32 minutes in the Jayhawks’ loss to Cincinnati on Saturday, the longest he had played since 34 minutes against Utah on February 7.
The two NBA draft prospects faced off on January 31, with Peterson and Kansas outplaying Dybantsa and BYU, 90-82. The 6’6″ guard scored 18 points in 20 minutes, outscoring the BYU forward, who tallied 17.
Dybantsa and Peterson could meet again in the Big 12 Tournament, depending on how both teams perform in their final four regular-season games. Kansas will take on No. 2 Houston, No. 4 Arizona, Arizona State, and Kansas State in that order, while BYU will next play UCF, West Virginia, and Cincinnati, concluding its regular season against No. 13 Texas Tech.
